Jeremiah 2

1The word of the LORD came to me, saying:

2“Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem:
Thus says the LORD:
I remember for you the devotion of your youth,
the love of your bridal days,
when you followed me in the wilderness,
in a land not sown. 3Israel was holy to the LORD,
the firstfruits of his harvest.
All who consumed him became guilty;
disaster came upon them,”
declares the LORD.

4Hear the word of the LORD, house of Jacob,
and all the families of the house of Israel.

5Thus says the LORD:
“What wrong did your ancestors find in me,
that they went far from me,
and went after emptiness
and became empty? 6They did not say, ‘Where is the LORD,
who brought us up from the land of Egypt,
who led us through the wilderness,
through a land of desert and pit,
through a land of drought and deep darkness,
through a land no one crossed
and where no human being lived?’ 7I brought you into a fertile land,
to eat its fruit and its goodness.
But you came and defiled my land;
you made my inheritance an abomination. 8The priests did not say, ‘Where is the LORD?’
Those who handle the law did not know me;
the shepherds rebelled against me;
the prophets prophesied by Baal
and went after what does not profit. 9Therefore I will contend with you again,”
declares the LORD,
“and I will contend with your children’s children.

10For cross over to the coasts of Kittim and see;
send to Kedar and consider carefully;
see whether anything like this has happened: 11Has a nation exchanged gods,
though they are not gods?
But my people have exchanged their glory
for what does not profit. 12Be appalled at this, heavens;
shudder, be utterly desolate,”
declares the LORD. 13For my people have done two evils:
they have forsaken me,
the spring of living water,
to carve out cisterns for themselves—
broken cisterns
that cannot hold water.

14Is Israel a slave?
Is he one born in the household?
Why then has he become plunder? 15Young lions roar over him;
they raise their voices.
They have made his land a desolation;
his cities are burned,
without inhabitant. 16Even the people of Noph and Tahpanhes
have grazed the crown of your head. 17Have you not brought this upon yourself
by forsaking the LORD your God
when he led you in the way? 18And now, what do you gain by going to Egypt
to drink the waters of Shihor?
And what do you gain by going to Assyria
to drink the waters of the River? 19Your evil will discipline you,
and your acts of turning away will rebuke you.
Know and see that it is evil and bitter
for you to forsake the LORD your God,
and for fear of me not to be in you,”
declares the Lord, the LORD of Hosts.

20For long ago I broke your yoke;
I tore apart your bonds.
Yet you said, ‘I will not serve.’
For on every high hill
and under every leafy tree,
you lie down as a prostitute. 21Yet I planted you as a choice vine,
entirely of faithful seed.
How then have you turned against me
into degenerate shoots of a foreign vine? 22Though you wash yourself with lye
and use much soap,
your guilt is stained before me,”
declares the Lord GOD.

23How can you say, ‘I am not defiled;
I have not gone after the Baals’?
See your way in the valley;
know what you have done—
a swift young camel
twisting about in her ways, 24a wild donkey accustomed to the wilderness,
sniffing the wind in her desire.
Who can turn her back in her heat?
None who seek her need weary themselves;
in her month they will find her. 25Keep your foot from going barefoot,
and your throat from thirst.
But you said, ‘It is hopeless!
No! For I love strangers,
and I will go after them.’

26As a thief is ashamed when caught,
so the house of Israel is ashamed—
they, their kings, their officials,
their priests, and their prophets— 27who say to a tree, ‘You are my father,’
and to a stone, ‘You gave me birth.’
For they have turned their back to me,
and not their face.
Yet in the time of their trouble they say,
‘Rise up and save us!’ 28But where are your gods,
which you made for yourself?
Let them rise up,
if they can save you
in the time of your trouble.
For your gods have become as numerous as your cities,
Judah. 29Why do you contend with me?
All of you have rebelled against me,”
declares the LORD.

30In vain I struck your children;
they accepted no discipline.
Your sword has devoured your prophets
like a destroying lion. 31You of this generation, see the word of the LORD:
Have I been a wilderness to Israel,
or a land of deep darkness?
Why have my people said,
‘We wander freely;
we will come to you no more’? 32Can a young woman forget her jewelry,
or a bride her sash?
Yet my people have forgotten me
for days without number.

33How well you prepare your way
to seek love!
Therefore you have taught even wicked women
your ways. 34Even on your skirts is found
the blood of innocent needy lives.
You did not find them breaking in;
yet it is because of all these things. 35But you say, ‘I am innocent;
surely his anger has turned away from me.’
Look, I am bringing you into judgment
because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’ 36Why do you wander so much,
changing your way?
You will also be ashamed because of Egypt,
as you were ashamed because of Assyria. 37You will go out from this place also,
with your hands on your head;
for the LORD has rejected those in whom you trust,
and you will not prosper through them.